Robot Reboot: Magnus Fights Thug-Bots in New Comic
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By Hugh Hart
- August 3, 2010 |
- 8:00 am |
- Categories: Books and Comics
Variant covers by Bill Reinhold (left) and Raymond Swanland depict two interpretations of Magnus Robot Fighter.
Images courtesy Dark Horse Comics
Originally hatched in the 1960s, comic book robot killer Magnus launches a fresh assault on gangster-employed automatons Wednesday when Dark Horse Comics reactivates the cult figure with a new set of stories.
In the inaugural issue, former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter revisits the continent-spanning city of North Am, where mobsters dispatch “thug-bots” to kidnap a rich heiress. Magnus’ mission: Get her back by whipping the hell out of the half-robot/half-man known as Big Guns.
For Magnus Robot Fighter No. 1 ($3.50), Dark Horse commissioned variant cover art from Bill Reinhold (Wolverine Origins), whose old-school interpretation of the red-suited, big-buckled hero is pictured above left. Fantasy painter Raymond Swanland (Aliens vs. Predator) produced the cover on the right.
Anybody remember creator Russ Manning’s original Magnus? How about the Valiant Comics‘ reboot back in the ’90s? Weigh in below.
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Remembering is one thing. Purchasing is another altogether. Having worked at a comic book shop, I do indeed remember them fondly, however, we didn’t have any customers that would buy them. *sigh*
Please follow @MatchesMalone on Twitter. Thanks!!!
I am reminded of the Simpsons quote from the ep where Marge tries to sell pretzels. “I saw you desperately trying to cram one more salty treat into America’s already bloated snack hole.”
I am not against diversity, but how many comics do they expect me to buy a month? There is already a massive over-population of comics on the market as is, I don’t have the time/space/money for one more.
I used to buy all the Valient titles when I was in a more flush, younger stage of my life. I even read Magnus and Solar, Man of the Atom as Gold Key comics when I was a kid. Probably the only reason I first sarted picking up Valient books to begin with.
Apologies for the spelling errors. But you get the idea.
This is a little O.T., but prolly a good place to ask –
Back in the 60’s there was a comic book where a guy had his brain in a kind of glass globe that he could then plug into a whole series of different robotic bodies. (In particular I remember one robotic body looking like a large mechanical grass hopper).
Does anyone remember the name of this obscure comic?
Secondly, another comic I’ve never been able to find hide nor hair of is a comic STRIP that I could have SWORN appeared regularly in “Highlights” magazine (I used to read this comic in the doctor’s office as a kid).
In this comic strip the characters lived in a space ship that, for all the world looked like an electric shaver with a transparent top. But most recognizable were the helicopter-like vehicles they traveled in when on planets that had a pair of huge fixed turbo fans, fore and aft that provided lift.
If anyone can point me to info on either comic, or even just remember a name, I’d really appriciate it.
Tx.
Dare we hope for a resurrection of “Capn. Johnner and the Aliens”? I miss Zarzz!